September 21, 2010

New questions about Jackson and Senate seat

U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. appeared with his wife, Ald. Sandi Jackson, at a fundraiser tonight as the political couple tried to fend off new questions about the congressman's role in the Senate seat scandal that brought down former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The appearance came just hours after the congressman issued a statement apologizing for disappointing voters in response to allegations that a political supporter paid to fly a female "social acquaintance" of Jackson's from
Washington to Chicago at the congressman's request.

Ald. Jackson issued her own statement calling today's disclosure "painful." On the way into her fundraiser tonight, she and her husband declined to answer reporters' questions.

"I'm going to a fundraiser," was all Sandi Jackson said.

A red, white and blue banner reading "Let's Get Started!!!" was hung on the staircase entrance. Several Democrats on the November ballot showed up at the party, including State Rep. David Miller, who is running for comptroller, and Robin Kelly, who is running for state treasurer.

Partygoers said Sandi appeared to be upbeat, while Jesse Jr. was more subdued. Both received a warm welcome.

"The Jackson family has a strong backbone and comes from excellent pedigree and they'll weather the storm," said state Sen. Rickey Hendon, D-Chicago, who has already announced his own interest in replacing outgoing Mayor Richard Daley. He said he still thought the congressman "would make a great mayor."

"They are two different people with two different careers," Gray said. "She can stand on her own record. The common home doesn't mean one person's career is reflective of the other."

The Jacksons later left without comment.

UPDATED at 3:50 p.m. with statement from Ald. Sandi Jackson; previously updated at 12:56 p.m. with Jackson statement; originally posted by Jeff Coen at 10:51 a.m.New details emerged today that raise a fresh round of questions about U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.’s role in the Senate seat scandal that brought down former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, even as the congressman contemplates a run for mayor of Chicago.

An Indian businessman with ties to Jackson and Blagojevich told federal investigators the congressman asked him to raise campaign money for Blagojevich in hopes the then-governor would appoint Jackson to the Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama, sources familiar with the investigation told the Tribune.

The allegation contradicts Jackson’s assertion that he did not direct such an effort. It surfaced in the Chicago Sun-Times today, just days after Jackson did broadcast interviews saying he had nothing to worry about from the federal investigation that led to Blagojevich’s trial on charges he sought to sell the Senate seat to the highest bidder.

The revelations Tuesday involve interviews with the FBI that predate the Blagojevich trial. Jackson issued a statement today denying some of the allegations and apologizing to voters.

"The allegations about fundraising and the Senate seat are not new. I've already talked with the authorities about these claims, told them they were false, and no charges have been brought against me," Jackson said in the statement. "The very idea of raising millions of dollars for a campaign other than my own is preposterous. My interest in the Senate seat was based on years of public service, which I am proud of, not some improper scheme with anyone."

Jackson also addressed another element in the Sun-Times report, that Nayak paid to fly a female "social acquaintance" of Jackson from Washington to Chicago at the congressman's request.

"The reference to a social acquaintance is a private and personal matter between me and my wife that was handled some time ago. I ask that you respect our privacy," Jackson said in the statement. "I know I have disappointed some supporters and for that I am deeply sorry. But I remain committed to serving my constituents and fighting on their behalf."

The congressman's wife, Chicago Ald. Sandi Jackson, 7th, issued her own statement later in the day asking for privacy.

"Today's disclosure, one that my family and I have been privately addressing for several months, is a very private, painful and unfortunate situation. Therefore, I would hope that the public will respect our ongoing personal handling and healing from this matter,'' she said in the statement.

Shortly after Blagojevich’s arrest on corruption charges in December 2008, the Chicago Tribune reported that FBI agents went to the Oak Brook home of Indian-American businessman, Raghuveer P. Nayak. The Tribune reported Nayak hosted an Oct. 31, 2008 luncheon where he discussed raising $1 million for Blagojevich to help persuade the governor to choose Jackson. The congressman's brother Jonathan appeared at a Nayak-sponsored fundraiser for the governor three days before Blagojevich was arrested.

The congressman acknowledged then that he spoke with Nayak about his desire for the Senate seat but said he did not endorse and was not aware of a fundraising effort to support his bid. Since then he has repeatedly declined to answer reporters’ questions about his role.

But sources now say that Nayak told investigators he had an Oct. 8 meeting with Jackson at which the congressman asked him to raise millions of dollars for Blagojevich in a bid to persuade Blagojevich to use his appointment power to put Jackson in the Senate.

During Blagojevich’s corruption trial this summer, prosecutors alleged that Jackson participated in a conversation with Nayak and another Indian businessman, later in October, as they discussed raising $1 million for Blagojevich. Jackson acknowledged last week that he was at a meeting with the two men but said he was unaware of their conversation.

Blagojevich faces a January retrial on the Senate and other corruption charges after a federal jury convicted him of one charge, lying to FBI agents, but could not reach a verdict on the others following his months-long trial.

Nayak has not been accused of wrongdoing and has previously declined to comment. His attorney, Thomas McQueen, confirmed that Nayak discussed the Oct. 8 meeting with federal investigators and that Nayak provided documents about his dealings with Jackson.

Ahhh- sounds like the Jackson family has some internal cleanup to do on their own-----rather than being blow hards for corporate America and every other guise of alleged 'injustices' that they see fit to attack.

They sound like 'legends in their own minds' oy

Sounds like they are a 'great match' for the seedy politics of Chicago..........

Jr says he's 'done nothing' yet is 'sorry' for a social acquaintance. hmm.
Sounds like he has some 'xplainin to do.

The only people that give a rat's behind about this are repubelicans that like to thumb their noses at Democrats and tease like a 5th grader.

Illinois Democrats hate Blago and the Jacksons, and all the Dem's I know do not plan to vote for any Dems in upcoming elections. That's not to say they will vote repubelican. Those 'baggers are even worse than Dems.

But sorry hatin' r's. Nobody is upset or angry or confused by your infantile behavior. We all know you vote repubelican, regardless of whether it is in your best interests. And usually, it isn't. Dem's will vote against Dem candidates, and will do so this time.

Mike P, the U.S. Constitution expressly allows for governors to appoint interim Senators. Wouldn't it take an amendment rather than a lawsuit to change that?

(More accurately, the Constitution provides for state legislatures to allow governors to appoint Senators. So I suppose on a state-by-state basis, people could sue the change the way the state appoints interim senators, but I still fail to see how this is a federal issue.)

What Illinois did wrong was to not hold an election for the Senate seat while the interim Senator was seated. This they were bound to do but couldn't be bothered. This is where the one-man, one-vote concept was violated.

I’m SURE if Pat Fitzgerald could have used Jacksons participation in this to convict Blago the first time, he would have. Having said that, the allegations do damage Jackson from a public relations perspective. It's easier to convict in the court of public opinion vs. a court of law. I don’t feel bad for him, but he’s not been convicted of anything. This is just typical political mudslinging.

Jesse Jackson Jr. is running against an impressive man named Isaac Hayes. When is the Tribune going to recognize that IL 2 has a clear choice between a hustler and a leader? When is the Tribune going to do a story on Isaac Hayes, rather than focusing on the garbage that Jackson spews?

IThe feds apparently have had no desire to go after Dad for his purported shakedowns of America's corporations over the decades, but maybe now with all the noteriety this sordid Blago mess is creating, they'll have to go after the kid. My kinda town Chicago is.

There is a Federal court case slowly making its way through the court system.If the plantiffs are successful,the ability of governors to appoint intrim senators will be stripped from them.Suit is based on the "one man.one vote" principal laid down by the US Supreme Court in the late 60's or early 70's.It called for the direct election of senators rather than their appointment.

All 50 aldermen on the Chicago City Council had to file paperwork earlier this year detailing their outside income and gifts. The Tribune took that ethics paperwork and posted the information here for you to see. You can search by ward number or alderman's last name.

The Cook County Assessor's office has put together lists of projected median property tax bills for all suburban towns and city neighborhoods. We've posted them for you to get a look at who's paying more and who's paying less.

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